Canada and India have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral trade and investment relations, with both sides aiming to deliver tangible economic benefits and expand commercial opportunities for businesses in the two countries.
During high-level ministerial discussions, Minister Sidhu and Minister Goyal emphasized the importance of building a stronger and more resilient economic partnership at a time when global trade and supply chains are undergoing significant transformation. The talks reflected renewed momentum in India-Canada relations and highlighted the growing strategic importance of cooperation between the two economies.
Welcoming Minister Goyal and what was described as the largest Indian delegation ever sent abroad, Minister Sidhu underscored the vast potential for collaboration across several complementary sectors. These include clean energy, critical minerals, agri-food, advanced manufacturing, digital technologies, and skills development.
The ministers reiterated their commitment to advancing negotiations for an ambitious and mutually beneficial Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). Both sides expressed confidence in achieving their shared objective of concluding the negotiations by the end of the year.
The proposed CEPA is expected to significantly enhance market access for businesses in both countries, support resilient supply chains, and create new avenues for two-way economic growth. Officials from both nations believe the agreement could become a cornerstone of the broader strategic partnership between India and Canada.
A major outcome of the discussions was the launch of the Canada-India Trade and Investment Forum. The new platform is designed to bring together business leaders from both countries and encourage stronger commercial engagement, investment opportunities, and strategic partnerships.
The ministers also highlighted the importance of improving connectivity between India and Canada. They stressed that stronger people-to-people ties, easier business mobility, and direct commercial linkages are essential to unlocking the full potential of bilateral trade and investment relations.
In a significant announcement, Minister Sidhu confirmed that Canada will lead a Team Canada Trade Mission to India later this year. The initiative reflects the growing interest among Canadian businesses in expanding their presence in the Indian market and deepening long-term commercial partnerships with Indian companies.
Both countries agreed to continue encouraging long-term and high-quality investments in priority sectors. They also committed to strengthening collaboration between businesses, innovators, and institutional partners to promote sustainable economic development and technological cooperation.
The ministers concluded the meeting by pledging to maintain regular dialogue and work toward concrete outcomes in the months ahead, signaling a renewed push to elevate India-Canada economic relations to a higher level.
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